NOWHATTA
First day of the Muslim month of fasting coincided with crippling restrictions in most of the old city areas. In a bid to fail the separatist sponsored ‘March Sopore’ call, Mufti Sayeed led government imposed restrictions, informal curfew-like-situation in which drop-gates emerged on most of the roads paralyzing movement. But what was interesting on the day first was that even Jamia Masjid was closed for Friday prayers. The grand mosque of the city usually witnesses protests and processions after the prayers. But this is not for the first time that city’s largest praying space was closed. This has been happening for a long time that started with the Sikh rule and the tradition was revived during militancy. Even in 2008 and 2010, the mosque was literally closed for most of the summers to prevent lot of people getting there.
SRINAGAR
It has been a windfall. In cricket there has never been, no big money around, ever. This year the Police Public Cricket Premier League (PPCPL) gave away cash prizes and it was staggering Rs 27 lakh. The topper, Murtaza Warriors bagged the first prize of Rs 5 lakh as Simula Superstars finished second for Rs 3 lakh. Organizers dispensed cash for a catch and a run and offered whatever the players required. While the Rs 27 lakh cash money was spent by debit to the civic action programme, other costs were managed through sponsorships. Barring a few, almost every major business chipped in with some sponsorship. Other than two winners, the other teams that were in the 10 participants included BCC Bulls, Al Hamza Super Kings, Ramhall’s Lions Sopore, Anantnag Kings, Mirza Gladiators, TCI Max, HK Stars and JKP Tigers.
KUPWARA
It is yet another racket and what makes it different is that BJP has its footprints in it. Police have busted a job racket in which six youth stand duped by Rs 15 lakh. The man who has taken the money is Abdul Rehman, the man whom BJP fielded in last assembly elections, unsuccessfully. Interestingly, the man has given them “orders”, “I cards” and even “uniforms” of forest guards. They were even deployed to protect Jammu forests for six months. The racket exposed when one of the “guards” went to the office of the Conservator forests to get his salary released. Three of the “beneficiary guards” are orphans and had managed the bribe by selling their inheritance.
DELHI
J&K government has initiated the process of retaking 7-Akbar Road, a bungalow that is allotted to the state. Occupied for a long time by Payal Singh, the erstwhile wife of Omar Abdullah and two sons, J&Ks Estates Department has served her a notice. There is a possibility of eviction if she is not vacating the premises in the stipulated time, sources suggest. At the same time, the government is planning certain interventions at 5-Prathvi Raj Road to do away with the extreme insulation of the VVIP suit.
LADAKH
ITBP which is deployed on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control (LoAC) has opted for a policy reversal. Instead of driving horses from outside for its requirements, the paramilitary will now be managing it locally. It has already launched a drive to procure local tough mules and yak to reach supplies to its snow-hit posts. The force believes local purchase will get it 4-legged local companions which are suited for desert and also help them some good friends in the arid lands. It is hiring 70 animal handlers as well.
CHANDIGARH
For the first time in history, Harman Singh Randhawa in Hoshiarpur has grown apples in Punjab plains. In the first go, he has grown 150 trees of Anna and Dorsett varieties on 1.5 acres in Saleran and Choha villages. These verities survive in harshly hot regions. Singh said he decided to experiment with apples after knowing that even Ecuador and Spain grow apples in their tropical climates. As the experiment proved successful, Singh is planning growing apples on 50 acres now.
URI
The two armies are looking at each other differently, at least once in a blue moon. Unlike past when an inadvertent crossing would cost a person years in the jail, the army last week sent a man back home within two days. Kashif Baig, a resident of Amra Sawan village in PaK inadvertently crossed over into this side during the night of June 10 and 11. He was arrested by the troops and after getting details, they fixed a flag meeting. June 13 witnessed his return journey home as the two armies met at the Kaman Bridge.
MUMBAI
Reel life hero Aamir Khan is taking a Kashmiri girl as his daughter for the next film, Dangal. She has been identified as Zaira Wasim. Dangal is a Nitesh Tiwari-directed film that is inspired by the story of wrestler Mahavir Singh, from Haryana’s Balali village, who coached his daughters to historic wins. Geeta Phogat was India’s first female wrestler to win gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in 55-kg freestyle category as her sister, Babita Kumari, bagged the silver. Reports said there are four little girls including Fatima Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and Suhani Bhatnagar who are housed in Khan’s Bhandra flat and are being trained for the roles. They have morning kushti schedules and evening language lessons. Khan who is playing their dad in the film breakfasts, lunches and dines with them.
TEXAS
“I humanize yeast – build entire pathways in a simplified cell & study disease,” is the simple status that Dr Aashiq Hussain Kachroo’s Twitter account reads. A Kashmiri microbiologist, Kachroo is with University of Texas at Austin. His latest research was published in Science. Using state of art technology, Kachroo and his colleagues help human DNA to replace corresponding DNA in yeast. So far, the team has tested more than 400 genes from humans and replaced them with similar genes in yeast. This method is expected to help many people live better. Now, mankind will be able to predict exactly the effect of genetic changes, and understanding, testing and treating human genetic defects.
Insurance agencies have dispensed with a cash of Rs 1805 crore in 44807 claims linked directly to the September 2014 floods. Private sector agencies have the substantial share of Rs 1076 crore in these claims
With an additional Rs 1667 crore being announced, BJP government in Delhi says a total of Rs 5039 crore was provided for short term relief to the state. The fresh cash-bag envisaged pending liabilities of Rs 838 crore in PMRP, Rs 551 crore additional ex-gratia relief for repair / reconstruction of damaged Kuccha houses, Rs 172 crore for the tourism sector, Rs 59 crore as subsidy for providing additional food grains and Rs 47 crore for repair of damaged roads
